Football Focus

[Otta]

Typical English press. Rooney left on the bench (not left out of the squad, just on the bench), and suddenly he's on his way out of United?

[StraferJack]

It is a significant decision tho Otta, and with plenty of precedent at Utd with once-key players spending big games on the bench before being jettisoned

[red devil]

You're not wrong SJ, but unless he continues to be benched, I tend to side with Otta's point about the press creating mischief. Rooney's not a natural conditioned athlete like a Giggs or Ronaldo. He missed a couple of games with 'flu before the weekend game against Norwich, and looked like he needed more game time. In the past I think Fergie would've played an 80% fit Rooney, but with the promising development and maturing of Welbeck and Cleverly he didn't need to take that risk. It will be interesting to see what team he puts out against Chelsea...

[red devil]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Just to recap, these are the head to head's...

>

> SC v LG

> OT v JL

> Mx v EP

> RC v RD

>

> I can't believe the EDF'ers who have made it

> through. Just goes to show that the big teams are

> not interested in the Cup anymore. Personally I

> fielded a lot of youngsters in the early rounds

> and it backfired, Benitezstyle.

ITV have been on the phone wanting exclusive rights to the big local derby, Otta v Jah, but I warned them it could get messy, especially around throwing out time...

[maxxi]

Saturday 9th March 2013

Norwich 2 V Southampton 1

QPR 2 V Sunderland 0

Reading 1 V Aston Villa 2

West Brom 0 V Swansea 2

Sunday 10th March 2013

Newcastle 2 V Stoke 1

Liverpool 1 V Tottenham 2

[maxxi]

Saturday 9th March 2013

Everton 2 V Wigan 0

Man City 4 V Barnsley 1

Sunday 10th March 2013

Millwall 1 V Blackburn 2

Man Utd 3 V Chelsea 1

[El Pibe]

ooh maxx and i could easily draw this one if no correct scores are predicted, what happens in the even of a tie, especially as home and away are the same for two hammers!

[maxxi]

You have Barnsley scoring two EP!?

All the scores are diff so I'm guessing one of us will get lucky.

Did think about Miwaww being due a homer but couldn't bring fingers to write such rot...

Bring it on Ni?o!*

*Heads or Tails?

[Jah Lush]

Premier League

Saturday 9th March 2013

Norwich 1 Southampton 1

QPR 2 Sunderland 1

Reading 2 Aston Villa 2

West Brom 3 Swansea 2

Sunday 10th March 2013

Newcastle 2 Stoke 1

Liverpool 2 Tottenham 3

FA Cup

Saturday 9th March 2013

Everton 2 Wigan 1

Man City 3 Barnsley 0

Sunday 10th March 2013

Millwall 1 Blackburn 2

Man Utd 3 Chelsea 2

[El Pibe]

ha ha, same here on miwaw.

Was actually going to go with a shock 1-0 barnsley win, but then decided it was unlikely so my heart gave them a little consolation bonus in the hope of a really good cup tie.

That's my problem, I still tend to vote what I want rather than what I think.

[Jah Lush]

ITV have been on the phone wanting exclusive

> rights to the big local derby, Otta v Jah, but I

> warned them it could get messy, especially around

> throwing out time...

With Liverpool hosting Tottenham on Sunday there is every chance that the two of us will be watching the match together in the pub. It could get very messy indeed.

I'm off to White Hart Lane tonight for the game against Inter-Milan and hope we'll equip ourselves as well as the last time they visited the us (a 3-1 win for Spurs and Bale tore Maicon apart). Hopefully, we'll still be able to get a good result at Anfield on Sunday too.

[Alan Medic]

What are the chances.........Bale to Madrid, Ronnie back to Manchester and Rooney to Paris? I wouldn't be too sorry to see Rooney leave United and I'd like Ronaldo to come back. I put Bale into the equation as Madrid would need a big signing to compensate losing Ronaldo. Maybe I should try and get a job with a tabloid.

[Jah Lush]

I think Roy Keane started the "end game" scenario for Rooney with his comments before the game on the telly the other night. The tabloids have just followed suit. I don't think he's been the first name on the team sheet for a long time though. As for Bale I'm certain he will stay at least another season at Spurs if we get Champions League this year.

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Premier League

Saturday 9th March 2013

Norwich 2 Southampton 1

QPR 2 Sunderland 1

Reading 2 Aston Villa 1

West Brom 2 Swansea 1

Sunday 10th March 2013

Newcastle 2 Stoke 1

Liverpool 2 Tottenham 1

See a pattern forming here

[malumbu]

See www.itv.com/itvplayer/first-among-equals-the-laurie-cunningham-story/series-1/episode-1-first-among-equals-the-laurie-cunningham-story

Or my postings on racism in football for something more interesting/less shallow.

[maxxi]

More tabloidese - malumbu in 'my posts are interesting' shocker.

Prog on LC was interesting though - except that Ince still talks bollox.

[????]

Malambu= joey Barton, a man convinced in the profoundness of his online twittering

[Alan Medic]

13800

[DaveR]

Premier League

Saturday 9th March 2013

Norwich 2 Southampton 0

QPR 1 Sunderland 1

Reading 1 Aston Villa 2

West Brom 2 Swansea 1

Sunday 10th March 2013

Newcastle 2 Stoke 0

Liverpool 2 Tottenham 2

[red devil]

League

Saturday 9th March 2013

Norwich 2 Southampton 2

QPR 2 Sunderland 1

Reading 1 Aston Villa 1

West Brom 2 Swansea 2

Sunday 10th March 2013

Newcastle 3 Stoke 0

Liverpool 2 Tottenham 2

Cup

Saturday 9th March 2013

Everton 2 Wigan 0

Man City 4 Barnsley 0

Sunday 10th March 2013

Millwall 2 Blackburn 2

Man Utd 2 Chelsea 0

[StraferJack]

+1 for quids

Meanwhile in the face of today's SAF pronouncements, worth revisiting

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2919541.stm

[Otta]

Yeah, but Beckham was a player that was actually wanted by lots of people. If Man U wanted rid of Rooney, his options would be very limited unless he took a massive pay cut.

[StraferJack]

Absolutely otta, which is why this situation could get messier. Moving a player you don't want is good financially and for team spirit

Having someone on 250k a week (relatively) kicking his heels while the rest of the team (most if not all) on far less, will be a big problem to manage.

But either way, it's not media making mischief. It's a problem for the club and for Rooney

[SCSB79]

League:

Saturday 9th March 2013

Norwich 2 V 1 Southampton

QPR 0 V 1 Sunderland

Reading 1 V 1 Aston Villa

West Brom 2 V 2 Swansea

Sunday 10th March 2013

Newcastle 1 V 0 Stoke

Liverpool 1 V 2 Tottenham

Cup:

Saturday 9th March 2013

Everton 3 V 0 Wigan

Man City5 V 0 Barnsley

Sunday 10th March 2013

Millwall 1 V 1 Blackburn

Man Utd 2 V 0 Chelsea

[Mick Mac]

Spurs consider Celtics James Forrest as Bale replacement

http://metro.co.uk/2013/03/07/tottenham-eye-celtic-star-james-forrest-as-gareth-bale-replacement-3532009/